Caption: Aerial view of Houston Ship Channel.

A professional services contract of $5.5 million was approved by the Port Commission and awarded to TC&B/GBA, a joint venture of Turner Collie and Braden, Inc. and Gahagan & Bryant Associates, Inc. at the September Port Commission meeting.

The ship channel expansion work includes critical-path professional services for engineering, design and project coordination. The widening and deepening of the ship channel will allow for economic growth to continue. Given significant demand from industry to take advantage of current economic conditions and facilitate future growth, the Port of Houston Authority has proposed an expedited schedule whereby dredging could begin by 2021 and the project be completed in 2024.

The Houston Ship Channel is the busiest deep-draft international trade waterway in the nation, and improvements are needed for safety and the future growth of regional and national commerce.

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Port Houston and industry stakeholders meeting with U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady.

Port Houston executives and Targa Resources welcomed U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw’s staff at the Bayport Container Terminal Aug.19.

The officials highlighted the importance of the Houston Ship Channel Expansion Project to the nation and the value of the channel and the industry and jobs that it supports.

Just days later on Aug. 27, Port Houston’s Executive Director Roger Guenther and channel industry partners briefed U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady on the project. The waterway’s importance to the nation’s economy was the key focus of the meeting.

Port Houston and industry stakeholders are working together to address the challenges with the current channel, as well as meeting the industry needs for future improvements.

The Port of Houston is an asset to the state and national economies. Widening the nation's busiest waterway to allow for improved two-way traffic should lead to safer and more efficient economic growth.

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Port Houston’s Small Business and Education Outreach Department held an industry Capital Projects Forum Feb. 15 at the port’s executive building. More than 300 small business representatives attended.

The port’s small business Team was onhand to address questions about the benefits of being registered in the Small Business Development Program.

Akilah Hicks, Small Business Coordinator, welcomed attendees and discussed the port’s Buyspeed Procurement System and how to get registered as a port vendor as well as mentioned upcoming small business event opportunities.

Don Smith II, Construction Manager for Port Houston, provided a presentation on upcoming construction and design projects at the port’s Turning Basin docks, Care Terminal, Barbours Cut and Bayport container facilities.

“The type of work for every project changes at each location depending on the facility’s needs. These range from structural repairs to rehabilitation of wharves and more,” said Smith.

Smith also outlined the general steps for port contractors after the award process for bids and proposal submissions as well as final project implementation and review.

“This is a busy year for the port because we are continuing to expand our assets at our container facilities to accommodate more cargo,” added Smith.

In 2017, Port Houston completed more than $200 million worth of construction contracts for port terminals.

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Bahri Logistics’ M/V Bahri Hofuf V.16 discharged the heaviest piece of cargo the company has ever handled on its new state-of-the -art 26,000 dwt Bahri Class RoCon vessels at Port Houston January 31.

A floating crane was deployed to assist with discharging operations to barge with the heaviest piece weighing 266 metric tons. The cargo, which consisted of five heavy lifts ranging from 70 metric tons to 266 metric tons in two pieces, had a combined total gross weight of 690,335 kg.

“It was a very exciting move,” said Clifford Kuhfeldt, a regional manager for sales at Bahri Logistics. “It went off without a hitch.”

Port Houston Executive Director Roger Guenther said cargo that heavy is unusual.

“It's much larger than any run-of- the-mill, everyday lift that we have,” Guenther noted.

Bahri Logistics is one of the top 10 breakbulk carriers in the world. It operates six new state-of-the-art multipurpose vessels with 26,000 DWT each on a regular liner schedule. Bahri’s vessels connect the U.S. to Saudi Arabia and major ports in the Gulf, Indian subcontinent and the Mediterranean.

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